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Thurso Community Council says no to Tesco extension


By Will Clark

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Tesco has come under fire for failing to use their planning permission to build a new supermarket in the last five years..
Tesco has come under fire for failing to use their planning permission to build a new supermarket in the last five years..

After five years of no progress with the former auction mart site, the food chain is being sent a message that it should not be given a second chance after having let down residents.

Last month, the planning permission, which was granted in 2007, expired without a brick being laid. Community councillors say they are backing public calls for Highland Council to refuse an extension and for the land to be sold off to a new buyer.

At their meeting on Tuesday night, the community councillors voted by seven to one to object to Tesco’s fresh application.

Acting chairman Don Smith said people in the town were almost unanimous in believing the retail giants do not deserve another chance.

“It is our opinion that they have had more than enough time to build a supermarket if they wanted to,” he said.

“There are a lot of people in Thurso who feel they have been let down by the lack of development and their patience has now run out.

“Our objection is only reflecting the mood of the town – the feedback we’re getting is very negative and I have yet to come across an individual who still supports the project.”

Treasurer Elspeth Husband echoed Mr Smith’s comments, saying that despite having had five years to build the supermarket, Tesco had succeeded only in turning an area of Thurso into an eyesore.

The consent covers a new supermarket, together with a four-pump petrol station, car park and new access. The building was due to open by spring 2011 and create 60 new jobs on top of the current workforce in the town of 90.

At a public exhibition at the firm’s existing Millbank store in December, Tesco representatives said the recession had delayed the plans and that it is looking at either building a new supermarket or selling the Ormlie Road site.

They stated that if the extension was granted and it opted to go ahead, construction would not start until at least 2014.

Corporate affairs manager Gloria Coats then said: “We’re working to ensure the greatest opportunity for development on the site.

“Implementing the consent will allow either Tesco or another developer to develop a superstore.

“We will update the local community and customers when our plans and timescales have been finalised.”

The Millbank store was put up for sale in 2011 but Tesco has stated it is committed to retaining a presence in the town – if it doesn’t build the new supermarket, its existing store will be taken off the market.

The John O’Groat Journal held an online poll on its Facebook site earlier this month when it asked readers whether Tesco deserved to get an extension for planning permission. Almost all those responding said the firm should not be given another chance.

The application for the extension in the consent is to go before the council’s north planning area committee later this year.


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